9,000 jobs in limbo claims Dallat

Mr Dallat told the Time: “There are hold-ups obstructing the way forward on the future of local government jobs in Coleraine and Limavady Council.

“The Executive hasn’t agreed the Boundaries Commission’s report on local government boundaries or a report on the district electoral areas, which will determine the number of councillors in each ward and give some degree of certainty to those councillors who may wish to stand.

“There is a hold-up of the Reorganisation Bill - by the Office of First and Deputy First Minister - and the Finance Bill, both of which should have been through the Executive by the end of January according to a letter from Secretary of State Paul Goggins, otherwise we are facing elections in May 2011.

“Failure by the Executive in allowing these bills will certainly be subject to the Executive Working Group set up through the Hillsborough Agreement to scrutinise the work of the Executive.

“Unfortunately, the Environment Minister is being disingenuous about the hold-up in local government and is not giving a straight answer on its future.

“He is refusing to answer the question relating to Paul Goggins’ letter.”